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Community Cook – December

This month Gulp NT were taken out to enjoy food stories aboard Lloyd Beck’s sailing boat, which is currently anchored in Woods Inlet, near Mandorah. We enjoyed the salty breeze and view of Darwin Harbour over a chat and some great local food as the pink sunset glowed.

Lloyd has always loved the sea and, after growing up in Darwin, became a boat captain for the Mandorah Ferry before becoming a crab fisherman. Although he once considered a move to Cairns, he realised that, with its vast and beautiful undeveloped coastal and inland landscapes, there’s nowhere better to live in the world than the Top End.

He has since been dedicated to defending these from environmental destruction, spending a lot of time assisting with campaigns and clean ups.

His love of food, wild caught fish, gathered fruits, and cooking outside – whether on a fire in the bush or the deck of the boat – reflects his love of the freedom and rawness the Territory brings.

This time of year is exceptional. It’s mango season and Lloyd shared a recipe that reminds him of his childhood.

“Growing up in Darwin we always loved picking mangoes fresh from the trees. In our place in Parap we had one of the biggest mango trees in Darwin. We would reach off the balcony and just eat them green and crunchy,” he says.

“We didn’t have any fancy recipes, we would just dip them in soy sauce – just like that.

“Since then that tree blew down in Cyclone Tracy. We had moved out to Howard Springs by then. Mum always had snake beans and different fruits growing in the garden, pigs and other animals and we were never far from knowing where our food came from, and I still live like that.”

Over time, Lloyd has been inspired by the green mangoes dipped in soy sauce, adding ginger, chilli and curry leaf to make an amazing salad that goes perfectly with one of his favourite foods – freshly caught fish.

“Most of my recipes I just make up. I love cooking and learnt to cook when I left home – just blokes on the boats, so I got into it,” he adds.

“I love the variety of tropical produce that I grew up with. Our unspoiled landscapes and the multicultural backgrounds of the many people that live here have added to food culture and also friendships – why would you want to live any where else?”

Lloyd’s Green Mango Salad
4 medium size green mangoes

2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp grated palm sugar

2cm chunk of ginger, peeled & grated
3 small curry leaves, broken up

1 red medium-hot chilli, finely diced
Lime juice (optional)

Peel and cut the green mangoes into thin strips (available in Darwin from September until early January).

Mix the soy sauce, grated palm sugar and ginger.

Put the mango in a bowl and coat with the mixture.

Add the chilli, curry leaf and a squeeze of lime. You can adjust the balance of flavours to taste.

If you know a community cook in Darwin who would like to share their recipe, GULP NT can organise a gathering with their small team. $100 plus ingredients can be offered to the participating cook for hosting and sharing. Get in touch today and share your stories and food love.

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